What If I'm an Alpha?

While there is no cure for Alpha-1, there is a lot you can do to treat and manage it. Learn more about the disease and what you can do to best manage your condition.

What is Alpha-1?

Learning about Alpha-1 and what happens in your body will help you understand the disease. You'll also learn about what causes it, who's at risk and what you could do.

Family Testing

Since Alpha-1 is a genetic disorder, you may want to suggest testing other members in your family, so they know whether they carry the deficient genes. That's important if they want to proactively manage their lives, too.1

Medical Treatment

Your doctor may recommend different types of medicines or other treatments to help you manage your condition. Learn more about several basic types of therapy and what they do.

Lifestyle Changes

Your lifestyle habits will make a difference in your health, especially for Alpha-1 patients. There are lots of things you can do to improve your health.1

Patient Support

Beyond all that, there's a rich network of resources to support patients and caregivers. Tap into this network to feel connected to others who may be experiencing the same things you are and to get the support you may need.

WHAT DO ALPHA-1 LUNGS LOOK LIKE?

CT scan of an alpha-1 deficient patient

TESTING FOR ALPHA-1 IS IMPORTANT

Getting tested for Alpha-1 is easy. It is diagnosed with simple blood tests. Find out about a free Grifols AlphaKit you can get from your doctor.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

PROLASTIN®-C (alpha1-proteinase inhibitor [human]) is indicated for chronic augmentation and maintenance therapy in adults with clinical evidence of emphysema due to severe hereditary deficiency of alpha1-PI (alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency).

The effect of augmentation therapy with any alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha1-PI), including PROLASTIN-C, on pulmonary exacerbations and on the progression of emphysema in alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency has not been conclusively demonstrated in randomized, controlled clinical trials. Clinical data demonstrating the long-term effects of chronic augmentation or maintenance therapy with PROLASTIN-C are not available.

PROLASTIN-C is not indicated as therapy for lung disease in patients in whom severe alpha1-PI deficiency has not been established.

PROLASTIN-C is contraindicated in IgA-deficient patients with antibodies against IgA due to the risk of severe hypersensitivity and in patients with a history of anaphylaxis or other severe systemic reactions to alpha1-PI.

Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, may occur. Monitor vital signs and observe the patient carefully throughout the infusion. Should hypersensitivity symptoms be observed, promptly stop infusion and begin appropriate therapy. Have epinephrine and other appropriate therapy available for the treatment of any acute anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reaction.

PROLASTIN-C may contain trace amounts of IgA. Patients with known antibodies to IgA, which can be present in patients with selective or severe IgA deficiency, have a greater risk of developing potentially severe hypersensitivity and anaphylactic reactions.

The most common drug-related adverse reaction observed at a rate of >5% in subjects receiving PROLASTIN-C was upper respiratory tract infection. The most serious adverse reaction observed during clinical trials with PROLASTIN-C was an abdominal and extremity rash in 1 subject.

Because PROLASTIN-C is made from human plasma, it may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, eg, viruses, the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) agent, and, theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent. This also applies to unknown or emerging viruses and other pathogens.